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Imperial Treasury Vienna – The most magnificent Treasury in the World

Imperial Treasury Vienna is one of the most important, valuable and magnificent treasuries in the world. It is located in Vienna’s Hofburg.
In this treasury you’ll find the Holy Lance that according to the legend pierced Jesus’ side, and the agate dish that for centuries was believed to be the Holy Grail.[tweetbutton]

Secular Imperial Treasury

Many of the jewels and precious stones that due to their unique size couldn’t be fitted into the crowns of the Habsburgs were hidden from public view in the treasury for generations.

The imperial crowns from all the eras and all the crownlands of the Habsburg Empire, as well as all the other insignias, also reside in this treasury.

Since the Middle Ages there were two kinds of treasuries at European courts: Secular treasuries that above all attested to the political power and geographical reach of their owners, and ecclesiastical treasuries that were typified by relics and objects that were ascribed to the private ownership of saints.

The Innerer Burghof – Hofburg / Vienna (c) Maximilian Just

At the Hofburg both of these kinds of treasuries lie right next to each other. And it’s often apparent how hard it was to draw a boundary between the secular and the sacred treasures.

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The Ecclesiastical Treasury

In the Ecclesiastical Treasury you’ll be overwhelmed by thorns, nails and cloths that are associated with various saints. Due to their art historical significance some of the reliquaries are especially worth seeing for their amazing hand-crafted artistry.

Imperial Treasury, Vienna (Photo: Maximilian Just)

One of the most interesting objects is located in room number five of the treasury, which is dedicated to the so-called “Napoleonica”. After all Napoleon Bonaparte — if only for a short time — was a son-in-law of the House of Habsburg. Napoleon’s son spent his whole life in Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

Both men who started two world wars were born in a same small country in the middle of Europe. Even more, for years they have lived at the same time in the capital of this country and they have even met several times. This country was Austria and the city was Vienna.

For centuries, the ruling dynasty in Vienna was obsessed with the cult of the dead. After the death of a Habsburg the heart and viscera were removed from the body according to strict ceremony. So, each of Habsburg was buried three times at three different locations in Vienna.

Vienna is still stuffed with strange customs and curious places, royal mummies

The guidebook The Dark Side of Vienna is in many ways a different Vienna travel guide. Away from the tourist traps you will be guided through the dark places and royal catacombs unique for its historical importance and scary atmosphere.

One of specialities of this book are Extra Walks for Special Interests. If you have special interests about Empress Elisabeth – Sisi, you can spent a day or more followed the path of that famous Empress through Vienna.

In WHO IS WHO and WHAT IS WHAT IN VIENNA you will find more than 100 brief biographies of historical figures as well as about 90 public places with the addresses, opening hours, admission fees and public transport connections for each one of them.

Last but not least: This guide will be updated and published 2-times a year. If you buy the book once, you will be able to download new book version with recent information, new chapters, pictures and maps every six months without additional charge. The actual version is 1.7